After Maria and Irma: where the Caribbean stands

Some of the most idyllic travel destinations have been hard hit by Hurricanes Irma and Maria last week, two of the most powerful storms ever recorded in the Atlantic. Some cities, even some archipelagos, are almost entirely in ruins.

The most fortunate ones – notably Saint Kitts and Nevis, Anguilla, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, the Bahamas and the Dutch territory of St. Eustatius – sustained only minor damage. Other places like the Florida Keys, Puerto Rico, Antigua and Barbuda and St. Martin are struggling to get supplies of clean water, food and fuel.

At the dawn of the high tourist season in the Caribbean, the local authorities are obviously not busy unrolling the red carpet to the vacationers but rather to ensure the safety of their fellow citizens and to rebuild.

Here is an overview of the current status of the Caribbean islands affected by Irma and Maria (sources: Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association and their respective tourism offices).

ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA

Although the tourist center Antigua was not affected by Irma, Barbuda suffered considerable damage. Premier Gaston Browne says nearly 90 per cent of homes are destroyed and hotel infrastructure, while minimal in the region, has also been affected.

BAHAMAS

Things have resumed their normal course in the Bahamas since international correspondence and airports have resumed their regular schedule. Major tourist areas, such as Nassau, Paradise Island, Grand Bahamas Island and The Exumas, rely on normal hotel operations and are welcoming visitors.

Atlantis, Paradise Island and Warwick Paradise Island hotels were undamaged and remained open during the storm. Baha Mar Resort and Casino, Grand Bahama Hotel, Melia Nassau Beach Resort and One & Only Ocean Club on Paradise Island all resumed operations last week. Some southern islands were more severely affected but will be reopened to tourists in the days to come once the debris is all picked up.

CUBA

In an interview in the Cuban newspaper Granma, Alexis Trujillo Morejón, the first deputy minister in Cuba's Ministry of Tourism, is reassuring about the island's ability to re-establish its tourism sector after Hurricane Irma.

Airports serving Cayo Coco and Santa Clara are currently closed and will reopen on Oct. 31, as the northern part of the island has been severely affected by the destructive winds of Hurricane Irma. The Ministry of Tourism maintains, however, that the situation will return to normal before the start of the peak season.

The eastern part of the country, for its part, would now operate without difficulty. The provinces of Guantánamo, Santiago de Cuba and Granma would not have been affected, while Las Tunas should restore its hotels in a short time, it is said. For its part, Holguín, with slight damage, quickly recovered.

Summary of air links to Cuba for the coming months:

• Air Transat and Sunwing resumed their respective routes to Varadero
• Air Transat resumed its route to Holguin
• Air Canada has resumed service to Havana but flights to other destinations in Cuba remain canceled
• Caribe Sol, which relies on Cubana flights, has suspended operations to Cayo Coco and Cayo Santa Maria until Oct. 31, 2017 inclusive

FLORIDA KEYS

Air Canada has resumed its regular schedule for Miami, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Sarasota and Tampa. Air Transat, meanwhile, has reinstated its flights to Fort Lauderdale. By far the region most severely affected by the passage of Irma, the Florida Keys has seen thousands of disaster victims, the total destruction of 25 per cent of homes and extensive damage over 60 per cent of the structures. The inhabitants of the central and southern islands are still deprived of cellular networks, electricity - not to mention food and fuel - and even drinking water in certain places; thus, tourists are requested not to visit the region until further notice. According to local authorities, "roads are unsafe because of much debris, such as trees, boats and power lines."

JAMAICA

Jamaica has not been affected by Irma or Maria and therefore has no major problems at this level. Services remain operational and the country continues to welcome visitors.

Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge have reinstated their scheduled service.

HAITI

This half of the island of Hispaniola has not been affected by Irma or Maria and therefore has no major problems at this level. Services remain operational and the country continues to welcome visitors.

Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge have reinstated their scheduled service.

US VIRGIN ISLANDS

Henry E. Rohlsen Airport in Sainte-Croix is fully operational and receives American Airlines flights without any problems. The south and southwestern parts of St. Croix Island are in a very bad state, however, after the passage of Maria's eye, with the U.S. government having declared a state of emergency for this territory overseas. The tourism department encourages travellers to postpone their trip.

The Cyril E. King airport in St. Thomas has suffered severe damage and is only open to humanitarian flights; flights are scheduled to resume next week if clean-up is done as planned.

Several hotels have announced closures:

• Bluebeard's Castle Resort: heavily damaged
• Frenchman's Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach Resort: heavily damaged, closed until further notice
• Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas: heavily damaged, closed until further notice
• Secret Harbor Beach Resort: heavily damaged, closed until further notice
• Windward Passage: closed for the next six months

MARTINIQUE

Martinique was not touched by Irma and suffered only minor damage following Maria, including some obstructed roads; there are no major problems at this level. Services remain operational and the country continues to welcome visitors.

Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge have reinstated their scheduled service.

MEXICO

Mexico has not been affected by Irma and Maria and therefore has no major problems at this level. Services remain operational and the country continues to welcome visitors.

To meet passenger demand, Transat has announced an increase in its capacity in Mexico for the months of September and October 2017.

PUERTO RICO

Mayor of #ToaBaja #PuertoRico confirmed at least 8 people have drown from severe flooding in the area. #HurricaneMaria #Maria #HuracanMaria pic.twitter.com/U9CjfvPdfz

— Hurricane Info (@HurricaneData) September 22, 2017

The most devastating storm in the history of Puerto Rico, Hurricane Maria fell relentlessly on the island with winds of 240 km / h, knocking out the island’s electricity network and affecting 4 million people.

According to the US Center for Hurricanes (NHC), rains could reach 50 to 75 cm by Saturday, or even 90 cm in some places, and the authorities had called on residents on Thursday morning to get to higher ground for fear of flooding catastrophic.

The Caribbean Emergency Center also estimates that between 70 per cent and 80 per cent of the country's infrastructure has been damaged. The airport is accommodating only humanitarian and military flights.

US President Donald Trump declared the state of natural disaster, releasing federal funds for emergency aid and reconstruction in Puerto Rico where most of the infrastructure was damaged.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

The other half of the island of Hispaniola was not touched by Irma or Maria and suffered only minor damage following Maria. Services remain operational and the country continues to welcome visitors. Hotels in the AMResorts, Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts, Viva Wyndham, Riu Hotels and Barceló Resorts chains are all open and 100 per cent operational. Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge have reinstated their scheduled service. To meet the demand of travellers, Transat announced an increase in its capacity in the Dominican Republic for the months of September and October 2017.

SAINT-MARTIN/SAINT MAARTEN

Undoubtedly one of the places most affected by the passage of Irma, Saint-Martin is only in the beginning phase of recovery.

In addition, all Sunwing flights departing from Toronto and Montreal to the island of Saint-Martin are cancelled until April 30, 2018.

In overview, the damage to various places of St. Martin, as reported by the tourist office:

• Beach Plaza: heavily damaged
• Belair Beach Hotel: heavily damaged, still without telephone and Internet
• Esmeralda Resort: 70 per cent destroyed
• Hotel Mercure: broken
• Playa Orient Bay: heavily damaged. The hotel was undergoing refurbishment at the time of Irma's passing; its reopening is therefore postponed to an indefinite date.
• The Samanna: crews are still assessing the damage but the property will be closed for the rest of the year
• La Vista Hotel: minor damage
• Oyster Bay Beach Resort: heavily damaged
• Princess Heights: minor damage
• Riu Palace St. Martin: damaged infrastructure
• Summit Resort Hotel: heavily damaged, closed until further notice
• Westin Dawn Beach: heavily damaged, closed until further notice
• Sonesta: heavily damaged, closed until the end of the year

TURKS & CAICOS

Providenciales International Airport (PLS) is reopened since Sept. 11. Several hotels have suffered Irma's fury and remain closed to assess the extent of the damage. Most plan to accommodate vacationers in mid-October.

• Beaches Providenciales: the hotel is closed and will only accept guests from Dec. 14
• Club Med Turkoise: the hotel is closed at least until Sept. 30
• Alexandra Resort, Blue Haven Resort and Beach House: Hotel suffered some damage due to winds and will remain closed until Oct. 8
• Gansevoort Turks & Caicos: the hotel is closed and will only accept guests from Nov. 1
• The Palms Resort, The Shore Club on Long Bay Beach and The Sands: The hotel has suffered only minor damage to the landscaping. The Palms and Sands will re-open on Sept. 23 and The Shore Club on Sept. 30
• Seven Stars Resort & Spa: no damage, open to holiday makers

Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge have reinstated their regular service at Providenciales International Airport.